James Joseph Lagina

James Joseph Lagina (“Jim”), age 63, passed away peacefully on Wednesday February 16, 2022 at West Allis Medical Center. Jim was born in Milwaukee on July 25, 1958, son of Joseph and Dolores (nee: Yost) Lagina.

Jim graduated from Milwaukee Boys Tech High School “Class of 1976”, where he received further education to pursue a career in plumbing and secured an internship with Zien Mechanical Contractors, where he became a licensed plumber in 1979. Throughout high school, he actively participated in power lifting and various track events such as shot put and discus.

Jim learned and honed his leadership skills by becoming involved with the Milwaukee Jaycees in 1978. Throughout his time with the Jaycees, Jim served as President and helped coordinate the National Jaycee Convention in Milwaukee.

On October 16, 1982, Jim was united in marriage to the love of his life, Janice Kapusta, at St. Louis Catholic Church, in Caledonia. Throughout the years, he was employed by various companies including Zien Mechanical Contractors, Friese-Mueller Plumbing and Fire Protection, Ahern, and Louis Schmidt Plumbing before purchasing Louis Schmidt Plumbing in 2006 and expanding into Lagina Plumbing. In 2010, Jim opened Lagina Agency, a strategic business consulting firm to use his expertise to help train, develop and support plumbing businesses throughout the Midwest through representation of several nationally known product lines.

Jim was a former member of Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, and over the years coordinated couples ministry events by using his talents in the kitchen and his leadership skills. At the time of his passing, Jim attended Grace Community Church in West Allis. Jim also volunteered his time and talents at Fort Wilderness in Rhinelander, and with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association by helping coordinate a music outreach festival in Milwaukee. In his spare time, Jim loved to travel, follow local stock car racing and NASCAR events, watch baseball, especially his son Joseph, and spend time with his family.

Jim will be dearly missed by his loving wife of nearly forty years, Janice; daughter, Julia Lagina (Ben Coons); son, Joseph Lagina; mother, Dolores Lagina-Kantorski; sisters, Susan (Tom) Kraft, Linda (Ricky) Ross; sisters-in-law, Diane Maller, Christine Enders; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Lagina; and his brothers-in-law, Larry Maller and Tony Enders.

Visitation will be held at Elmbrook Church Chapel, 777 S. Barker Road, Brookfield, WI 53045 on Friday March 11, 2022 from 3:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. with a Celebration of Jim's Life service to start at 4:30 p.m. . In lieu of flowers, memorials to Fort Wilderness Ministries, PO Box McNaughton, WI, WI 54543 have been suggested.